Shloka 51

शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)

Devanagari script

अंगीकृतं युवाभ्यां तच्छिवभक्तिरतात्मना । विपरीतमतिर्जाता वद कस्माद्गिरीश्वर

Transliteration

aṃgīkṛtaṃ yuvābhyāṃ tacchivabhaktiratātmanā | viparītamatirjātā vada kasmādgirīśvara

Translation

O Girīśvara, you accepted it with a heart absorbed in Śiva-bhakti; why, then, has an opposite intention arisen? Tell me—what is the reason?

Word by Word

• अङ्गीकृतम्: accepted, assented to
• अङ्गीकृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अङ्गी√कृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘accepted/assented’

• युवाभ्याम्: by you two
• युवाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक, द्वितीया/तृतीया/चतुर्थी?—रूपतः तृतीया द्विवचन (Instrumental dual); ‘by you two’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण ‘that’

• शिवभक्तिरतात्मना: by one whose self is devoted to devotion to Śiva
• शिवभक्तिरतात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला): शिव-भक्ति-रत-आत्मन् ‘whose self is devoted to Śiva-bhakti’; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक?—आत्मन्-शब्दः पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• विपरीतमतिः: a perverse/contrary thought
• विपरीतमतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः ‘viparītā matiḥ’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• जाता: has arisen
• जाता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘has arisen/occurred’

• वद: say, tell
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कस्मात्: from what cause? why?
• कस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी एकवचन (Ablative singular)

• गिरीश्वर: O lord of the mountain
• गिरीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः ‘lord of the mountain(s)’; पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative singular)

Speaker

Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights how a devotee seeks clarity when a seemingly dharmic, devotion-rooted decision appears to turn contradictory—emphasizing discernment (viveka) and truthfulness within Śiva-bhakti.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By addressing Śiva personally as Girīśvara, the verse reflects Saguna devotion—where the Lord is approached as a responsive, compassionate person who explains His intent to guide the devotee’s understanding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to stabilize the mind through Śiva-nāma japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and prayerful inquiry, so that confusion (viparīta-mati) is resolved in devotion.